🇮🇳 India
The mangalsutra, a necklace of black beads and gold, is tied on the bride's neck by the groom in many Hindu communities, and toe rings are worn by married women. Many couples also exchange rings at the engagement.
Mangalsutra, being writtenRings, knots and tokens of promise
A ring is the best-known sign of a marriage, but it is one among many ways of binding two people: a knotted cord, a pair of bracelets, a coin, a necklace, a shared cup.
Presented by ClearTrust Free for couples, families, guests and the curious.
A ring is the best-known sign of a marriage, but it is one among many ways of binding two people: a knotted cord, a pair of bracelets, a coin, a necklace, a shared cup. Each token is a way of making a promise visible. Some are worn for life, some are used for the ceremony alone, and some are given to the couple by their families.
Why a ring
Rings are circles, with no end, which people read as the image of a promise that does not stop. The Roman habit of giving a ring at betrothal and the medieval church's blessing of rings, spread through Europe and then the world with Christianity and trade. Rings are now exchanged in most countries, in civil and religious ceremonies, often on the left hand in much of Europe and on the right in Orthodox countries, Germany, India and elsewhere.
Other tokens that bind
Many cultures use something other than rings. The Hindu mangalsutra is a necklace tied round the bride's neck, and the toe rings (bichiya) mark a married woman. The Scottish and Irish handfasting ties the couple's hands with a cord. In Georgia, Orthodox couples wear crowns; in the Philippines the arras coins are handed over; in Sikh weddings the couple are linked by a scarf during the lavan. In several African and Pacific cultures, bracelets, beads or cloth are exchanged.
Metals, stones and meaning
Gold is preferred across much of Asia and the Middle East for its value and purity, and in some Islamic communities men are advised not to wear gold, so a silver or platinum ring is used. The diamond engagement ring became standard in the twentieth century partly through advertising. Other couples choose a plain band, a family ring, a sapphire or a ring made from a grandparent's gold, and some wear tattoos or bands of silicone.
How it is changing
Same-sex couples, many couples who marry later, and people who do not wish to wear jewellery have made the choice more personal. Ethical sourcing, lab-grown diamonds and recycled gold are growing choices. Many people exchange rings at the engagement and again at the wedding, or have a ring blessed at a faith service.
Rings, knots and tokens of promise around the world
🇵🇰 Pakistan
Muslim couples may exchange rings at the engagement, and the nikah is made by the signed contract with the groom's promise of mahr. The groom's family commonly gives the bride gold jewellery.
Nikah, being written🇮🇩 Indonesia
Couples exchange rings, and many Javanese brides wear jasmine garlands, the melati, hung from the hair and chest. The groom's gift (seserahan) includes cloth, a set of toiletries and fruit.
Seserahan, being written🇵🇭 Philippines
The yugal cord and the veil are laid over the couple by the sponsors, and thirteen arras coins are given from the groom to the bride. Together they stand for unity and the sharing of wealth.
Wedding, being written🇨🇳 China
Couples today exchange rings, and in many families the groom's side gives the bride gold jewellery. Older Han custom included a hair-pinning rite for the bride, the ji li, and gifts of jade.
Chinese marriage, being written🇬🇪 Georgia
In the Orthodox ceremony priests place crowns on the heads of the couple, and the pair exchange rings that have been blessed on the altar.
Stefana, being writtenTraditions to start with
Wedding ringThe exchange and meaning of the ring.
Engagement ringThe ring of promise.
Claddagh ringThe Irish ring of love, loyalty and friendship.
HandfastingBinding the couple's hands.
Las arrasThirteen coins given by the groom.
Toe ringA married woman's ring in India.
Wedding cordThe wedding lasso of Mexico and Spain.Also part of it, and being written: Mangalsutra (The Hindu marriage necklace.).
Questions people ask
Which finger does the wedding ring go on?
The left hand ring finger in much of Europe and the Americas, the right hand in Germany, Poland, Russia, India and many Orthodox countries. There is no single rule.
Do all weddings have rings?
No. Other tokens such as necklaces, cords, coins, bracelets and crowns are used in many places, sometimes with rings as well.
Why is the ring a circle?
A circle has no beginning or end, so it stands for a lasting promise. This is a symbolic reading used in many cultures.
Should a ring be bought new?
That is a personal choice. Many couples use family rings, second-hand rings or recycled gold.
About this page
Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
Rings, knots and tokens of promise on EveryShaadi
The traditions written up so far, best known first.
RegionSouth AsiaSoutheast AsiaEast AsiaCentral Asia and the CaucasusMiddle EastNorth AfricaSub-Saharan AfricaEuropeNorth AmericaLatin America and the CaribbeanOceania
🇹🇼 Taipei, TaiwanSame-sex marriage in Taiwan
The legal recognition of same-sex unions in Taiwan, the first in Asia.Modern · Engagement and betrothal
🇪🇸 Madrid, SpainSame-sex marriage in SpainMatrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo en España
The national law that legalized same-sex marriage and adoption rights for couples in Spain.Modern · The ceremony
🇬🇷 Greece and 2 moreAdelphopoiesis
A historical Eastern Christian ceremony uniting two people of the same sex in a recognized spiritual bond.Betrothal · Engagement and betrothal
🇲🇨 Monaco, MonacoRecognition of same-sex unions in Monacocontrat de vie commune; union civile
Legal frameworks for same-sex couples in Monaco, from cohabitation agreements to ongoing civil union debates.Modern · Engagement and betrothal
🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreCommon-law marriage
A union recognized by law because a couple lives together as spouses, without a formal ceremony or license.Vow · After the wedding
🇪🇪 Tallinn, EstoniaSame-sex marriage in Estonia
The legal recognition of same-sex unions in the Baltic state, following registered partnerships.Modern · Engagement and betrothal
🇨🇴 Bogotá, ColombiaSame-sex marriage in Colombia
The legal recognition of same-sex unions established by the Constitutional Court in 2016.Modern · The ceremony
🇺🇸 United States and 2 moreSame-sex marriage and Judaism
How different branches of Judaism handle the union of two people of the same sex.Modern · The ceremony
🇳🇱 NetherlandsSame-sex marriage in Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten
The legal right for same-sex couples to marry in the Caribbean constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.Modern · The ceremony
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Same-sex marriage in Spain: FELGTB Federación Estatal de Lesbianas, Gais, Trans y Bisexuales, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Claddagh ring: Royalcladdagh, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Same-sex marriage in Taiwan: Guy of taipei, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Same-sex marriage in Colombia: Diego Cambiaso, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Same-sex marriage and Judaism: Ed and Eddie, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Las arras: penny, CC BY 2.0, source
- Wedding cord: Phil! Gold, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Handfasting: Sander van der Wel, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Toe ring: Wikiss, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Wedding ring: CLW at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Engagement ring: Photo by Derek Ramsey ( Ram-Man ), CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Same-sex marriage in Estonia: Märt Põder, CC BY-SA 4.0, source